Question

December 28th, 2009

How did the Prophet (peace be upon him) pray?

Taken from Energize your soul

Did he bless himself like we bless him?

What about the tashahhud?

"All worships are for Allah. Allah's peace be upon [me?], O [me] and His mercy and blessings. Peace be on us and on all righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that their none worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that [I] [am] His servant and messenger."

..That would be kind of awkward.

But this is a legit question. Anything from the Quran on how he prayed?

Jummah, Food and Movies

Okay, so I lied.

I'm posting two days after. But headache is a legitimate reason!

Friday:

Jummah

Err, belated Jummah Mubarak people!

I woke up at 9 am for the first time in a week and went to the Masjid. Oddly, I expected a khutbah that had to do something with Jesus (as) or Christmas but got nothing.

Just a khutbah about the Prophet (saw) and the Companions.

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Food

We went to a Pakistani restaurant and ate FOOD! Obviously, but I loved this restaurant.

And that's basically it about the food. There was a Cricket game going on that was pre-recorded, but the diners cheered on just the same.

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Movies

Yup, I saw the blue people movie.

The graphics and 3-D were AWESOME.

Sadly, even though we were there like 15 minutes early, the room was PACKED.

So we had to sit in the third row.

Yes, my back and neck still hurts.

But all of those pretty colors made up for it.

The plot? Very predictable {Highlight for spoilers}

{I mean, I think we all kind of guessed that the main character would beat the baddies (in this case humans) But I liked Zoe Saldana's role and of course her and Jake Sully -protagonist- would end being the Tribe leaders. }

The SAVE THE EARTH message rang loud and clear.

All in all, it was an interesting Friday....

maybe I should start my Winter Break homework ._.

Stuff Somali People Like

Muwahaha! (This seems to be my catchphrase nowadays)

Anywho, a blog YOU guys need to check out (especially if you are somali) is

www.stuffsomalipeoplelike.blogspot.com (not ppl, although that blog was funny, some of it is offensive)

an offshoot of stuff white people like but completely different bloggers...

My friend started it and she's asked me to write a post for them (insha'Allah soon, I have MANY ideas loool)

And yeah that's the update. It's also winter break and so far I haven't seen the light of day

-hiss-

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I know it seems like I haven't really 'blogged' in days. Trust me, I haven't :[

It's just been links and directions and vague one liners (thanks for the insha'Allah Constructive Attitude, <|:o) <-- look a clown heh )

But I really do have thoughts! Somewhere in my sinus-headache filled skull.

Expect something.. tomorrow lmao. I'm tired right now @.@

Take care,

Modest Justice

Slip of the Tongue

December 20th, 2009

I watched this earlier in the year and was completely blown away



From what I read, it's the girl in the video who wrote it, the guy is in the one who says it.

Either way the message is so clear and loud and inspiring.

Each time I'm mesmerized.

Earrings with Hijab

The Closet: How to Wrap a Hjiab with Earrings from Sabrina Enayatulla on Vimeo.

Sabrina Enayatulla is AMAZING. If you haven't seen her website -->Slice of Lemon already

Then you are MISSING OUT.

I remember watching the first episode of 'The Closet' (not airing right now because of the move to L.A and whatnot...) and thinking "Wow, I love how she made hijab and earrings look so cool and modest!"

I had tried to do other types of hijab and earrings.. very unsuccessful.

But this was like a God-send!

So, malekat (you're the only one who asked but I wanted to do a post about it for a while)

THERE IS YOUR SOLUTION! No more awkward earrings pinned into the fabric and no more ears showing!

Woot teh Woot, enjoy Ladees! [I know I do ;D]

"I let my guard down for you..."

"And in time you will, too..."

A perfect Saturday night (lil' misty eyed)

December 12th, 2009

Tonight, I attended my school play.

(Sidenote: I wore the fascinator I won from Alysha over at V.I. Couture and have Pics to prove it muwahahaha!)

This year it was The Laramie Project (please withhold negative commentary)

I'm in Drama at my school (can't draw, don't feel like playing piano, I regret not doing choir, sooo theater it is!) so we had watched the movie adaption months ago.

The movie moved me beyond measure, so what else did I expect from the play? It included my own peers.

I was blown away.

It was so heart-breaking and inspiring at the same time. I even wrote a review for my English class (granted I could earn extra credit for that AND my drama class but still, I tried.)

Hate crimes do affect everyone; it doesn't matter what you are but who you are as an individual that counts.

RIP Matthew Shepard.

(My friend totally could've played Zubaida Ula- hijabi character in the play!)

[I would extemporize more on this issue but enough said, I'm trying to be light-hearted at the moment... even if I nearly cried near the end of the play)

Projecting one's own fears

December 9th, 2009

Warning: INSANELY LONG POST (well not really)

If you feel uncomfortable regarding posts on race, than please refrain from commenting. This post has nothing to do with Islam.

So, hopefully, many of you know that I'm in mostly in high level classes in my high school, right?

And do any of you remember the anxiety I felt when I was still taking Journalism during the beginning of this school year?

Well, in my English and U.S history classes (both Advanced Placement so.. work -ugh-), I am...

no, I'm NOT the only minority; if you look at it, it seems that the majority is actually the minority in these classes.

Instead, I'm the minority of the minorities.

Funny right?

1st period history, the bane of my existence, is where I'm the only representation of my race and religion. [Black, Muslim; Sure, I'm East African, but to everyone else I'm black( or African American) , so I will refer to myself as so]

However in 4th period English, there are two other muslims; one who's Indian and male (so you'd never know) and another who's Asian and female (she wears hijab too, so you'd assume we'd be best buds.)

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Before I continue, I'd like to start with an Oprah quote (don't hate)

"Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism"

I do my best. I do better than my best.

It's like this unconscious need to somehow 'prove' myself . That I am not some stereotype

(this need to dispel stereotypes is very annoying and stressful in my everyday life. I always have to 'second-guess' myself and see who I hang out with)

What I thought and still think to be a moment of subtle racism or at the very least (low expectations):

So, English is my strong point. I love it. I love writing, I can memorize vocabulary easily; so it's no surprise I get good grades on the tests. But every time we have a test, she always walks down my row so much more often than the other rows. After asking my brother -who had her- about it, he waved it away and said that she always goes down one row more often than others. So I brushed it aside. We switched seats monthly and when we took a quiz, it happened, AGAIN. I have an A average in this class, and if she presumes that I'm cheating; well that's hurtful and damaging to all of my efforts as a student in that class.

One can easily -knowing my brother's not so well score in that class- dismiss such paranoia and say that maybe I'm just like my brother.

Umm, that's still a bad; maybe even worse.

Assuming that a) I'm not good in English just because a sibling wasn't

b) That I'd resort to cheating so as not to become A

c) That with repeated high test scores, one would still fall to such low levels to sniff out a 'cheat'

And worse yet, there ARE students who cheat in that class. Many who cheat in ALL classes thanks to SIBLING. But how would the teacher know? She never goes down any other row after all.

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Which brings me to the point of this post.

Projecting my fears of racism onto others; that maybe, I somehow distort the reality, claiming that I'm a victim.

I don't openly digress such issues of race with people; certainly not with people who I just know will not fully understand me.

And I don't 'prefer' the company of my own race; nor do I hang out exclusively with hijabis or muslims or somalis.

But whenever I raise a hand in class or maybe make some folly; I grow self-conscious (or a more positive 'self-aware') of the results of my actions, and people's changing viewpoints of me.

Now honestly, I don't give a sh-- what anyone thinks of me; but I need to find solace on whether it's just that I'm perceiving racism- or in actuality, there is some sort of preference or subtle racism going on.

Don't think I'm discussing racism from only white people; I'm a minority of minorities, I'm talking about I feel with no one to to at the very least, vent to- with the knowledge that they would completely comprehend my feeling seeing as how they are 'the same as me.'

At least in those two classes. The reason why I don't talk much with the other muslims in the English class is:

1) You'd never know the guy was muslim, people just think he's 'indian' (shows how intelligent they are), and we have nothing in common.

2) She is quiet. And I mean, EXTREMELY QUIET. I've known her since the 7th grade and I've made many attempts to have a decent conversation. We walk to the MSA meetings and sometimes have a talk or two, but really, I'm not keen on being the only one talking in a conversation. Plus, sometimes I forget she's even in the same class due to the silence [somehow I feel like a bad hijabi whenever I go up and act out a play we're reading] We've also been in the same class for two years. Shame.

I hang out with mostly Asians, I'm not ashamed of it.

But there are some bad apples who are extremely racist.

They hate mexicans (majority at our school, but still minorities in the advanced classes), completely closed off to other cultures and are insensitive to my beliefs and who I am.

I tell those people off all the time and refuse to acknowledge their presence when I'm with my own group of friends (a mix of Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, e.t.c)

So again, this is partially me talking outloud and trying to figure out if I'm projecting my own fears onto certain people in my advanced classes and french class; or maybe I'll just be black-balled as the 'over-emotional' POC. Maybe I didn't reach a conclusion in this post, or a viable solution to my 'problem' which will only be regarded as such until a person of majority sees it as important; but it's still justified and it's still important to me.

This post has turned into a rant/digression, so excuse the lack of structure. And this post has nothing to do with Islam; I made a post partially concerning that

Leave me and my rant be.

Thank you for reading this insanely long post

www.stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com (you'll probably feel confirmed that this was an anti-white post but it wasn't and it has nothing to do with that; but the blog linked above just makes me feel as if there are people out there who understand; even if no one's experience is quite the same.)

"It all began, at a show one weekend"

(The purpose of this post is not to debate on the permissibility of music; take whatever stance you wish on that issue)

Have any of you guys heard of the singer Yuna?

She's from Malaysia, and she's AMAZING!

I have like 5 of her songs and I've memorized a couple by heart.

Now I know some people would take one look at the hijab and go

'ASTAGFURILLAH, WHAT IS SHE DOING, WHY IS SHE EVEN OUT OF THE HOUSE? SKDJFSKLMJCIPJSDKFMSDF -mind implodes-'

She's a great singer, and none of her songs preach drinking, fornication, or anything deemed 'westernly' or 'haram'.

To immediately shut her down because of her outwardly appearance is assuming too much of who she really is (of that I assume the best).
I have no problem with others singing; I mean if what they're singing isn't harming anyone (and to play the advocate, they're only harming 'themselves') then who are we to interfere?

Sorry, I didn't mean to get all serious in this post- or maybe I did- but I like her songs; if you're okay with listening to 2 minutes of beautiful music, take a gander:



(I didn't post this so that we could 'dissect' her outfit, remember her business not ours)


(I remember posting about Female Nasheed Singers; I recant my earlier statements, I realize that I was trying to make myself believe in something that I cannot. I'm all gung-ho for Female Nasheed singers with equal opportunities, or none (male or female) at all. Stop being hypocrites!)

*You may now return to your normal broadcast*

100 Followers

Dude, that's awesome.

100 followers in a year. I feel accomplished. (not that I don't have a life -cough- >.>)

But wow! Thanks Never Ever for being my 100th follower! You're amazing and so is everyone else who's had the patience to deal with my often mindless ramblings.

As I look now to many of my past posts, I cringe at the naivete I expressed and see how young I really am.

I don't know all the answers (hopefully I don't pretend to) and whatever good/enjoyment you readers get from this blog is all from Allah swt!

So, again, thanks for joining me on my never(ever -hehe!) ending journey of life and hopefully this blog will keep on rocking 'till my second Anniversary!

(P.S Have I gotten serious? In total clash with the pinkness of my blog?)

Being 'Proper'

Asalamu Alaikum ladees!

Did you guys have a good Eid? I hope you did because I know I did :D

Unfortunately it rained on my parade (literally) and I could feel the carefully applied foundation dripping away.

-sigh-

But other than that, my maternal Uncle had gotten married last year and his wife (who is a convert from Romania -my maternal family is pretty diverse in their marriage partners) brought me some turkish hijabs!

I can't believe they remembered that when I had only said it in a passing comment when I heard they were going to Turkey a couple months ago!

I got black, white, purple and a patterned purple one <3

She even taught me how to wear it!

I can't wait to get a coat to wear it with. Yeah, I see great things in my future -insha'Allah-

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*Vague on purpose*

Why can't everyone learn to accept each others differences?

If you tell someone over and over again to change something benign about their appearance you're only making yourself look bad.

Although you could argue that you're trying to 'forbid an evil' (And yeah I'm all for it and willing to hear it)

A person's choice of wardrobe is their choice.

Maybe they like their jeans and skirts and sandals.

Maybe they have done their research and just decide to opt out of something they don't perceive as obligatory.

Take your self-righteousness and shove it.

We can't all be perfect like you

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I dislike many people's definition of Islam, it's such a false dichotomy; you either do it this way or you're doing it wrong.

These people love to have such precise ways of doing something that it irks me.

I mean, really?, there's a detailed paragraph on how to wash yourself after you take a piss?

Really?

And there's always some hadith giving an exact play by play on how to do wudu, eat, sleep, walk and talk that I wonder how people can like being so constricted.

Islam is such a beautiful way of life, but people love to narrow it down

-boxing it in-

that things that shouldn't be overthought "dang it, I forgot to step in with my left foot" are taking so much more importance to the things that should matter

(i.e have you paid your zakat yet?)

But if you like to adhere to strict rules, than go wild, sorry for feeling differently about it.

It kind of reminds me of a story in the Qur'an of how Moses tells his people about Allah swt wanting them to sacrifice a cow.

(Do you all remember that story?)

And how essentially they asked for more and more detail on what kind of cow they wanted that Allah swt gave them an almost impossible task.

They took what was a general order

-just find a cow-

and made it so much harder

He said: "He says: A heifer not trained to till the soil or water the fields; sound and without blemish." They said: "Now hast thou brought the truth." Then they offered her in sacrifice, but not with good-will. (2:71)

Islam rocks you guys, seriously, but I'm not a conformist

(at least that's what I tell myself in the hopes that one day it'll ring true in all aspects of my life)

and I love the simple beauty of Islam that I find in the Qur'an and the not-so-detailed aspects of the Sunnah.

I agree that the Prophet (saw) was the final prophet and one of the best men of all time (leads to a link containing some snippets of music)

But some muslims frighten me in their near-worship of the Prophet (saw). Celebrations like mawlid- but I can't be a hypocrite, I attend those once a year just to see friends I see.. once a year or so-, and people following his example to the licking of their fingers.

I'm not criticizing, really, but he was just a man who delivered to us the beautiful message of Islam.

And ya just don't worship the messenger.

“But as for those who believe in God and His apostles and make no distinction between any of them – unto them, in time, will He grant their re wards [in full]. And God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace. (4:152)

-steps down from soapbox-

Okay, I'm done being the type of person I'm ranting about.

But if anyone feels in complete disagreement with what I've written that they're starting to froth and seethe in angry rage at such a big-mouthed infidel- the x button is always on the right hand corner-

Thank you and have a nice day/night/evening/afternoon/whatever

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2:62)